Merle Ottis Bartlett

December 17, 2013

Merle Ottis Bartlett, 84, of Cape Coral, formerly of North Fort Myers and New Port Richey, Fla., passed away Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, in New Port Richey. He was born Feb.16, 1929, in Painesville, Ohio, to Donald and Helen Bartlett, now deceased.

Hr was a member of the Victory Baptist Church. He was also a U.S. Army Veteran that served in the Apollo 24th Division and served one tour in Japan. During his service he earned the best sniper award in his platoon and also received a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars. He was a medic in the service.

He loved to fish, loved the outdoors, loved animals and enjoyed whittling airplanes. He also enjoyed watching old westerns and listening to country music. He was a welder for many years and worked at the C.I. for 25 years. He had the biggest heart and would give you his last dollar and the shirt off his back if you needed it.

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Merle Ottis Bartlett

He is survived by two children, Kim Bartlett (Jean) of Huntington, Ala., and Melody Kenyon of Cape Coral; one brother, Harold Bartlett (Carol) of Ky.; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his beautiful wife of over 60 years, Caroline Bartlett , who passed away March 30, 2013; as well as three children, Virginia Ann Brown, Merle Edward Bartlett and Betty Jean Kobilus; in addition to two siblings, Rose Sippola and Donald Bartlett.